Fertility Tests - What Now?

[Vicsleighbob]

Also posted in conception as I'm not sure where this should go.

After ttc for 7 months my husband and I have had fertility tests done privately. We got the results today.

He, at 42, apparently has super sperm and is way above the averages for everything. My results are less good.

I'm 36 and have a AMH pmol/l of 4.3 and I only have 8 follicles. I had a chemical pregnancy last month. The doctor has said that it is possible to get pregnant naturally but only around a 5% chance and could take years. IVF would give us the best shot but even so would only be around a 15% chance. I would need at least two rounds to gather enough eggs. At £6k a round, this isn't an option for us financially right now. He also said if we were going to have IVF, it should be now before my numbers get worse. We don't have time to wait.

So what now? I'm absolutely broken and don't know where to go from here. Any advice or outcomes anyone can share please?

[LillyLeaf]

Look into Access fertility, they offer multiple rounds for one off cost with refunds if there is no baby after the rounds, although you do pay for drugs on top of this. I would also agree to not wait. Have you been to your GP? Some areas have no IVF waiting lists. Good luck

[79andnotout]

What's your overall health like? My sister had similar results/age to you and got three frozen and one fresh all good quality from one round of ICSI. She is pretty healthy just had a low reserve for her age. You may not need multiple rounds if your eggs are good. I would also get a second opinion from another health professional. You should be able to take a print out of your results to other clinics.

[Vicsleighbob]

Thank you for the replies.

We are in the process of buying a house at the minute so every penny we have has been sunk into that. We really can't afford IVF. Wouldn't qualify on the NHS and my GP was totally uninterested.

Health wise I'm fine. Normal BMI, reasonably active, non smoker/drinker and decent diet.

[79andnotout]

Okay well I wouldn't give up hope of conceiving naturally @Vicsleighbob. You've not been trying that long. I'm not sure where that 5% chance of it happening naturally has come from, as 8 follicles is still pretty decent. Give it another few months, get the house purchase and move done with, and see how things lie then.

[Vicsleighbob]

Thank you @79andnotout I think we need to do that. The doctor we saw gave us the 5% figure. It sounds so low though. I've spent a lot of time crying over the figures, but I'm trying to be positive now. I don't have 'no eggs' and I'm healthy. I've been reading articles on DHEA and Q10 supplements as well as acupuncture, so I'm going to start there and try to be optimistic.

[Ilikeviognier]

I don’t buy the 5 percent chance personally.

My amh was 2.8 when I was 34. Since that result, I got pregnant 3 times- once with Ivf and two without.

I really don’t buy what he’s saying- you only need one decent egg - low amh just means you have less eggs.

[Justwantednicethings]

Eight follicles sounds like you have no issues with recruitment, just a low ovarian reserve?

Was this a non-medicated “Antral follicle count”?

You only need one ☝️

Try not to panic too much just yet, get a second opinion first and then figure out your next steps

(No idea on my AMH as I’m about to go private for that but I have two follicles month at 33! I get you totally!!! X )

[79andnotout]

I think some fertility doctors have their own agenda, or perhaps have their perceptions skewed as they usually only see people with fertility problems. I've been trying for longer than you @Vicsleighbob and I'm still hoping to get pregnant naturally, I think it just takes longer when your reserve is lower. Every month is a drag when you're focused on it.

[Vicsleighbob]

Thank you so much for the words of optimism

I've finally processed and digested my results. I can 'technically' get pregnant naturally so I'm going to try and stay optimistic. I have booked an acupuncture consultation for next week and I've ordered some additional supplements. My husband and I aren't getting any younger so we've said we'll give it until Valentine's Day next year and if I'm not pregnant by then, we'll look at IVF. That gives us a year to save up enough money. I'm hopeful we won't need it though!

[Vicsleighbob]

@Justwantnicethings

I'm not sure what a medicated test is. I had a blood test for AMH and an ultrasound for the follicle count. Apparently I have 5 follicles on the right and 3 on the left. My doctor said I should have double that amount.

[Vicsleighbob]

@79andnotout

Good luck to you. I hope it happens for you naturally. TTC is so stressful!

[Kintan]

Vicsleighbob Have you read the book called 'It Starts with the Egg'? It had loads of good advice including supplements to take, and could really help in your situation. For what it's worth my AMH was 3.1 when I was 38, and I got pregnant on our 4th month of trying naturally. Like a pp says, it only takes one good egg :)

[ckc45d10]

Yes, and you can review supplement options like CoQ10 with your doctor. Here is also a nice research article that gives an overview on fertility lifestyle basics: fertilityresearchandpractice.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40738-015-0003-4

[Vicsleighbob]

Thank you.

I received the doctors letter today and it reiterated that I only have a 5-10 % chance of conceiving naturally and a 15-20% chance with IVF. It also stresses the fact of chromosomal abnormalities and birth defects increasing because of my age. I feel hopeless right now and just want to cry. Part of me wishes we had never had the tests done. I don't think this is going to happen for DH and I.

[Ilikeviognier]

OP,

Read this;

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/hormonal-fertility-tests-waste-time-and-money/

As I said previously- I was in a similar situation to you at a similar age. I really don’t think it’s hopeless.

[Whatelsecouldibecalled]

Definitely try coq10 and read it starts with the egg. You want to the ubiqinol form of coq10 and can take 300mg a day if not more. Have a look in the book. It can help with healthy eggs. I’ve been taking coq10 as well as good diet and lifestyle over past year and have just had my results back. 15 follicles in one side and 8 on another. Amh of 12. Not sure if coq10 can affect the amh but maybe help the follicles? Worth a try anyway! Although not cheap £40 for a month supply

[LillyLeaf]

I'm 36 too. It's not that old! I recently got 5 embryos from 8 eggs from our first IVF cycle, we have unexplained infertility. Please don't give up hope although I know it's hard.

[Vicsleighbob]

Thank you.

I've just received my first pack of the ubiquilol Q10 and I had my first acupuncture session yesterday. I'm trying to remain hopeful.

Good luck to you all too!